Beads of sweat trickled down Greta's spine and her heart hammered so loud in her chest that she could barely hear herself think. You're almost there! She thought, eyes set on the winding, leaf-littered path ahead. All too soon, the scorching sun slowly lowered beyond the horizon. Greta knew she had to pick up the pace, because if she didn't make it home by sunset... "Grrooowwwwlll!"

A low bone-chilling snarl interrupted her train of thought. Suffocating silence followed, and Greta wondered whether she had imagined the menacing noise, when the soft patting of paws on sandy ground filled the air. Wolves.

Panic took ahold of her body and adrenaline coursed through her veins as she sprinted forward, throwing her pack aside and channeling the little energy she had left into her run. Pain ripped through her as she willed her legs to keep running, but it was no use— the snarling canines bounded closer and closer with every step, teeth bared primally.

Greta took in her surroundings, desperately searching for a solution to her dilemma, but soon a new problem arose; the path seemed to have crumbled ahead, leaving a gaping split in her track. With one last look behind her, she bounded forward, huffing with every stride. The blood-thirsty wolves were enough to settle her resolve.

She leaped off…

Time seemed to go still.

“Ugh!” Greta winced as she collided with the other side, the jarring motion shooting pain up her ankle.

She glanced behind her, willing the vicious beasts to not follow, and this time, god seemed to be on her side. They skidded to a stop over the edge, growling at a relieved Greta with vengeance in their eyes.

All bark no bite.